The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

The closure of the Ocean Club Golf Course yesterday and today due to the heavy downpour of rain forced organisers to call off the Pro-Am, scrap the completion of the qualifying round and cancel the first day of play today in the inaugural Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.

Grand Bahamian Racquel Riley was one of four women vying for the final two spots to join the field of 142 entered directly into the main draw. She paired up with Perrine Delacour, while Paz Echeverria and Alejandra Llaneza played together. The quartet began the qualifying on Wednesday, but play was halted because of the rain.

They were scheduled to resume play on Wednesday from the sixth hole, but that was completely aborted because of the estimated 11 inches of rain that fell.

As a result of the cancellation of the qualifying round, both Echerverria and Llaneza, because of their rankings, were awarded the two spots for the main draw that is now slated to begin on Friday.

“The damage to the golf course and structures caused by Tuesday’s heavy rain and winds was extensive and we are working around the clock to repair damages and drain the golf course so that we can present a first-class event for the LPGA, Pure Silk and the people of the Bahamas,” said Matt Truax, tournament director for Global Golf Management.

“We thank everyone for their understanding and patience while we do everything possible to return Ocean Club Golf Course to championship condition.”

When play picks up at 7:25am on Friday, golfers will tee off the 1st and 10th tees. The full field will play 36 holes before a cut is made to reduce the field heading into Sunday’s final round.

“It’s a bit of a hiccup, but nothing we can’t deal with over the next 24 hours,” said Truax about the work needed to be done to get the course ready for play. “We just need a little bit of cooperation from the weather so we can focus our energy on getting this course in shape and structurally sound so we can get ready for the TV broadcast and the ladies to come out and compete for the $1.3 million (cash prize).”

Depending on the outcome of the scope of work needed to be done, Traux said the rules committee will definitely make a determination on exactly how they will proceed with the format for the tournament that is expected to wrap up on Sunday.

“It’s not that this happens every week, but these girls have grown up playing golf all their lives, so they know how to handle situations like this,” Traux said. “They will make their personal adjustments and prepare themselves for the draw. They will be ready to go.”

Among the field of players here for the tournament are Inbee Park, Na Yeon, So Yeon Ryu and Jigai Shin, all from South Korea, American Stacy Lewis, Yani Tseng from Taiwan, Ai Miyazato from Japan, Azahara Munoz from Spain, Suzann Pettersen from Norway and Shanshan Feng from China, some of the leaders among the money makers on the LPGA Tour.

“The players are all here. They’re here for the long haul, so they will be around. The hardest part was getting them here,” said Traux about any concern about whether or not any of the players would pull out because of the inclement weather that delayed the preliminaries of the tournament.

Also included in the field is Georgette Rolle, another Bahamian pro player, who has been afforded a direct entry into the main draw. The tournament has free admission for all.